Mapping Plant Bioaccumulation Potentials of Pesticides from Soil Using Satellite‐Based Canopy Transpiration Rates.

This article focuses on a satellite-based modeling approach to map the bioaccumulation potential of pesticides from soil into plants by integrating the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM) to estimate canopy transpiration rates as a key spatiotemporal variable. The study separates plant transpiration (spatiotemporal factor) from plant- and chemical-specific variables to simulate bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for pesticides, exemplified by atrazine and lindane across the United States. Results indicate that the satellite-based model better captures regional and seasonal variations in pesticide bioaccumulation potential compared to a previous weather-based model, particularly avoiding overestimation in dry, warm climates like the southwestern U.S. Additionally, plant- and chemical-specific parameters were calculated for over 700 pesticides, enabling broader application of the model. The authors note limitations including generic plant parameters, exclusion of dynamic soil and weather influences on chemical partitioning, and simplified uptake pathways, recommending future research to incorporate pesticide application patterns, ionizable compound behaviors, and multiple exposure routes for improved ecological risk assessment.